Can-closing mechanism.



G. W. GWINN;

CAN CLOSING MECHANISM.

APPLICATION FILED DEC-1.3914.

Patented Aug. 20, 1918.

2 SHEETS-SHEEI Jii i Patented Aug; 20, 1918.

2 SHEETS-SHEET 2.

" STATES PATENT @FFIQE.

GEORGE W. GWINN, OF NEW YORK, N. Y., ASSIGNOR TO AUTOMATIC PACKING & LABELING COMPANY, OF DURHAM, NORTH CAROLINA, A. CORPORATION OF NORTH CAROLINA.

Specification of Letters Patent.

CAN-CLOSING MECHANISM.

Patented Aug. 20, 1918.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, GEORGE W. GWINN, a citizen of the United States, residing at New York, in the county of New York and State of New York, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Can-Closing Mechanism, of which the following 1s a specification.

My present invention pertains to an improved can-closing mechanism, and has for its main object the provision of means or mechanism for automatically closing the 11d of a can.

Heretofore in can factories the hinged lids of cans have been closed upon the body by hand, reparatory to shipment of the cans, and Where tobacco or other material has been oacked in tins having a hinged body, the lid has been manually closed. The present invention is designed to do away with this hand operation, and to effect such closing expeditiously and automatlcally.

In the annexed drawings, I have disclosed one embodiment of my invent1on, where1n:

Figure 1 is a top plan view of the mechanism;

Fig. 2 a similar view on a somewhat enlarged scale;

Fig. 3 a side elevatlon of the cams employed to tilt the lid upwardly and over the top ofthe can;

" Fig. 4: a sectional elevation, looking at right angles to Fig. 3, of the same parts;

Fig. 5 a perspective view of the closing cam;

Figs. 6 to 9 inclusive vertlcal sect onal views showing the can and its lid in dliferent positions with relation to the cam and the top-closing roller;

Fig. 10 a top plan viewof a modified arrangement of. the final closing mechanlsin;

Fig. 11 a transverse sectional view on the line 11-11 of Fig. 10;

Fig. 12 a top plan view of a further moditied arrangement of the final top-closing mechanism; and

Fig. 13 a side elevation, partly broken away, of such modified construction.

As above noted, prior to the shipment of hinged-top cans from can factorieslt 1s, of course, essential to close the-lids 1n order that they may be properly stacked and boxedor crated, and this operatlon has heretofore, so far as I am aware, been accomvertical shaft and 3 the turret or carrier,

provided with pockets 4 for the reception of can-tops, which are designated by 5. The turret is adapted to be rotated in the direct 10n of the arrow in Fig. 1, and the open 11d of the can (designated by 6) normally occuples the position shown in Figs. 1 and 6, when it is introduced into the machine. The introduction may be mechanical or otherwlse, and the feeding of the cans to the machine forms no part of my present invention. The rotation of the turret carries the can-body against two rails or guide-bars 7 and 8, formed concentrically with the axis of the shaft 2. The outer ends of these bars, as will be seen upon reference to Figs. 1 and'2, are preferably out-turned or curved so as to provide for proper entrance of the can into working relation therewith, and to force the can-body back into the pocket 4, so that it will be firmly held in position as it is carried around into working relation with the topclosing mechanism. Said mechanism va body portion 9, having an outwardly-extending finger 10, which finger is provided on its upper face with an upwardly-inclined cam or cam surface 11. Formed upon the outer or front face of the body 9, at the point of juncture between the finger l0 and said body is a second cam 12, which cam merges into the front face of the fin or 10, and into a rib or projection 18 forme upon the body 9, as a continuation of said cam 12.

The rib l3 is llfll'llifitl upon a line concentric with the axis of the shaft 2, but will be clearly seen upon reference to Figs. 1 and 2, the linger 10 extends inwardly so as to unde'rlie the rearwardly-turned can-top at a point adjacent its cuter edge, so that the can is carried around, the cam surface 11 will gradually turn the top without straining the same in any way.

ll denotes a fixed standard to which the rails Y and 8 are secured, said standard carryingat its upper end a horizontallydisposed rod 15, said rod in turn having secured to its opposite end an adjustable bracket l6, whichfforins the support for the member 9. A swinging arm or lever ii is mounted upon the reduced end of the rod 15, and a roller 18 is radially mounted upon a stud carried by said arm or lever 17. Normally the arm and roller are drawn downwardly by a spring 19. The roller, as will be seen upon reference to the drawings, e2:- tends inwardly beyond the upper rail '7 and contacts with the lid 6 after the same has been turned upwardly and downwardly by the action of the cams 11 and 12. In the form shown the working face 01" the roller 18 is inclined or the roller may be said to have the form of a cone, but this is not essential except with a lid having a peculiarly shaped top as, for instance, one having a bulge therein. The inclined form, however, facilitates the proper contact the roller with the can-ton.

it is thought that the operation of the apparatus will be clearly understood from the foregoing description and upon reference to the -draw?hugs, but it may be said that initially the can and its top occupy the positions shown in Figs. 1, 2 and 6. Upon rotation or movement of the turret the can-body first comes into contactwith the outer end of the rail 8, which tends to crowd it back into the pocket and the outer end of the cam 11 extends beneath the can-top and begins to turn the .same. As the movement continues, the top is gradually moved or swung upwardly into the position shown in Fig. 7, the can at such time coming into contact also with the upper guide-rail 7 and being held thereby. A further movement throws the lid or top over into the position shown in 8, and the cam surfaces ll and 12 so position the lid or top that it may readily pass beneath the roller 18, which tends to "force the lid downwardly into its fully closed position, as shown in Figs. iand 9. The spring 19 affords a yielding pressure for the roller, and likewise prevents damage to the parts in case the cantop or lid should not be properly closed by the cams, owing to the faulty construction of the lid or the hinged connection thereof with the body, or ior any other cause.

.lnstead of having a roller overlying the of movement of the can at all tirnes, it may be so arranged as to be periodically moved inwardly and outwardly in timed reation to the can feeding or advancing means, in order to effect the closing oi the top. in other words, it is intended to claim generically in: this case mechanism which will raise the lid, swing it into position over the can body, and close the same upon the body.

ln Figs. 10 and ii l have shown a cam lace adapted to act upon'the Lip-turned lid and to finally close the same upon the can body. Said cam is designated as a whole by 20 and as will be seen more particularly upon reference body portion 9 and extends outwardly in a horizontal plane alcove the rib or projection 13. The forward edge 21 of the cam is inclined or stands an angle with reierence to the path of movement of the can and is preferably rounded, as clearly shown in the sectional View, Fig. 11.

The operation of the mechanism, it is thought, will be clearly understood. W hen the can top or lid 6 is thrown upwardly into position with relation with the cams 11 and 12 the rear edge thereol will contact with the forward portion of the inclined edge 21, will be gradually turned downwardly thereby as the can moves thereunder.

ln Figs. 12 and 18 l. have shown a still further modification, wherein, instead of employing a roller, a spring-pressed cam cooperates with the lid or top to finally close the same. Said cam is designated by 22, and

its forward end is rounded, as shown in Fig.

13, the cam being carried by a laterallyextending arm 23 which in turn is secured to a pivoted lever 17 which corresponds with the arm 17 of the construction first described. The spring 19 tends to hold the cam in its lowest position, and as the can moves under the cam its curved surface will strike against the lid and gradually force it down into its closed position.

Any form of mechanism for advancing the cans to the initial lid-closing or turning mechanism and beneath the final closing mechanism may be employed, it not being essential that the cans be carried around in a turret, as a reciprocating slide or the like may be employed to advance the cans into proper working relation with the closing mechanism.

laving thus described my invention, what I claim is:

1. a machine of the character specified,

the combination of means for turning the hinged cover oil a can over the top of the can-body; a roller adapted to contact with and fully close said top; and means for moving the can into cooperative relation with the aforesaid means and roller.

9. in a machine of the character spec iie 1L1 the combination of means for turning to Fig. ll, it is carried by the Mill the combination of means for turnin hinged cover of a'can over the top of the can-body; and a spring-pressed roller adapted to contact with and fully close said top. 3. In a machine of the character specifiei, t e hinged cover of a can over the top 0 the can-body; and spring-pressed means adapted to contact with and fully close said to 4. In a machine of the character speci ed, the combination of a cam adapted to pass beneath the under face of. a downwardlyturned hinged can-top and to turn the same upwardly; a closing roller adapted to act upon said top when the same is turned upwardly to close the top; and means for traversing the can past said instrumentalities.

5. In a machine of the character specified, the combination of means for supporting and traversin a hinged-top can; a cam standing in line with the out-turned cover of the can and adapted, as the can moves past the same, to turn the top upwardly and over the can-body; and a spring-pressed roller adapt ed to contact with the top and to press the same to its closed position.

6. In a machine of the character specified, the combination of means for supporting and traversing a hinged-top can; a cam adapted to underlie the out-turned top and to partially turn the same; a second cam contacting with-the rear side of the top and continuing such turning movement; and means for finally pressing the top to its closed position.

7. In a machine of the character specified, the combination of means for supporting and traversing a hinged-top can; a member lying in rear of the path of movement of the can, said member being provided with means to turn the can-top upwardly and downwardly upon the can-body; means for positively closing said top; and means to hold the can in proper working relation with said operating means. 7

8. A machine for closing receptacles having hinged flanged lids, omprising, in combination, means for successively advancing receptacles with the lids thereof in substantially horizontal open position; and a lidclosing device located above the path of the receptacles and operative to engage beneath and to swing each lid into closed position.

9. In a machine of the character specified, the combination of means adapted to pass beneath the under face of a downwardlyturned hinged can-top and to turn the same upwardly; a closing roller adapted to act upon said top when the same is turned upwardly to close the top; and means for traversing the can past said instrumentalities.

10. In a machine of the character specified, the combination of means for supporting and traversing a hinged-top can; a member lying in rear of the path of movement of the can, said member being provided with means to turn the can-top upwardly; means for positively closing said top; and means to hold the can in proper Working relation with said operating means.

In testimony whereof I have signed my name to this specification in the presence of two subscribing witnesses.

GEORGE W. GWIN N Witnesses:

ALFRED G. Bonnsoo, JAMES W, LEARY. 

